Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is one of key priorities of UNICEF’s work in Mongolia. Last year UNICEF has supported the development of “Norms and Requirements for WASH in Kindergartens, Schools and Dormitories” which was jointly approved by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Sports, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance.
In addition to supporting national standards, UNICEF designed and developed indoor type container facilities as an innovative solution to improve access to WASH facilities in schools and kindergartens.
Most schools and kindergartens in Mongolia were built between 1960 and 1990 without taking water and sanitation facilities into account. Studies from 2007 show that on average, each student – even those living in dormitories – has only 2.3 litres of water a day for all their needs except showering.
Furthermore, only 21.7 per cent of schools and dormitories have indoor WASH facilities; the remaining 78.3 per cent have outdoor latrines that are mostly unsafe and unhygienic. As a result, the most vulnerable in Mongolia still suffer from low access to water and sanitation and children suffer disproportionally from this situation.
Now with the assistance from SDC, UNICEF will generate new data and evidence that will help the Government of Mongolia to plan and budget for better WASH service delivery in schools and kindergartens.
In addition, UNICEF and SDC partnership will demonstrate cost-effective and sustainable WASH solutions and support the Government for nationwide scale-up. The new programme will provide greater support to central and local authorities, to provide better access to safe water and adoption of adequate sanitation for children and families.
Efforts will focus on Bayanzurkh ger district, where also activities to improve good hygiene practices and behaviours will take place. In addition, district authorities will increased capacity to organize behavioral change campaign for children’s improved hygiene, also through greater access to international expertise and best practices.
“Sanitation and hygiene are key to child survival, development and growth. Unsafe water and unsanitary facilities have a negative impact on children’s ability to learn in the classroom. Government of Mongolia is highly committed to improving access to water and sanitation for school children and I am happy to see increasing emphasis in this area. SDC is a great partner for development and with their support we will be able to advance further our collective efforts to improve the situation of children by helping them access clean water, sanitation and proper hygiene” said Roberto Benes, UNICEF Mongolia Representative.
“With this project, SDC aims to improve water governance in Mongolia by providing evidence regarding the lack of improved sanitary installations in schools and by enabling replication of good practices in selected schools of the ger district area of UB city where the conditions are particularly alarming” said Gabriella Spirli, Director of Cooperation and Consul General, SDC in Mongolia.
